Rule of Rose

 PlayStation 2
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 113 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 88 out of 113
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 113
  3. Negative: 2 out of 113
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  1. SallyE.
    Jul 16, 2006
    9
    Remarkably strange, interesting, and creepy story! The attack controls aren't the best in the world but that's hardly a reason to put down the game. It's not meant to be about action, even if there are some intense fights every once in a while. Amazing!
  2. RobertB.
    Sep 19, 2006
    9
    A diamond in the rough -- just needed polish.
  3. doodlerman
    Jul 11, 2011
    9
    Really, Rule of Rose is a perfect game when it comes to story, style, and visuals. It's also probably the most twisted game in existence - I say this primarily because it involves little girls being sadistic and cruel to each other, it's a world where there isn't just blood and violence, but there's humiliation for almost no apparent reason other than that the person being humiliated isReally, Rule of Rose is a perfect game when it comes to story, style, and visuals. It's also probably the most twisted game in existence - I say this primarily because it involves little girls being sadistic and cruel to each other, it's a world where there isn't just blood and violence, but there's humiliation for almost no apparent reason other than that the person being humiliated is lower on a list (the kind of list that young girls often make to rank the people around them). Such humiliation - as seen early on - involves rats on the end of a stick being shoved in someone's face, and at one point the rat is dead and rotting, covered in maggots. The psychology of this game really gets to you, and it's very surreal, and can easily be compared to Silent Hill (of course its not as great as Silent Hill, nor as psychologically frightening, but it is, in many ways, similar). I would say this is more unsettling than horrifying, but sometimes that's all a game with this kind of slow, yet brilliant pacing needs. However, the one single thing that stops this great game from being even greater is the freaking battle controls. Everything in the game is perfectly manageable all until you get to an actual fight. The girl you play as, Jennifer, is so very afraid of everything around her, which I love as a concept, but the fact that she's afraid to even defend herself and fights with little feeble attempts is extremely aggravating. At first I thought it was because I was using short range weapons like knives and her fists, but then I discovered the steel pipe. I was so excited when I found this weapon because I thought this meant that she would swing it around more widely, but instead she still does those simply wimpy jabs whilst covering her eyes in fear. This is the most challenging part, because even if you are the most skilled hardcore gamer you will have difficulty. Also she gets knocked down really easily, and though the labrador, Brown, that aides you along the way is great help in fights, it is only so much help as even though it looks like you're hitting an enemy, and you see your steel pipe or knife going through the enemy, it will act as though you missed it. I give this a 9/10 because it is a brilliant and outstanding example of style and story, plus it has the greatest "GAME OVER" screen in existence, as it acts as the end of a story, in a most twisted and devious way - "...And they all lived happily ever after."… Expand
  4. Jownatan
    Jul 11, 2020
    10
    The game is amazing, just like a good horror game makes you uncomfortable, scared, disgusted and scared. The only bad thing is the combat, however, the game has some moments when it is necessary to fight something. This game is revolutionary for the year that was released, very bad that at the same time there were people so dumb that they couldn't understand what the game wanted to goThe game is amazing, just like a good horror game makes you uncomfortable, scared, disgusted and scared. The only bad thing is the combat, however, the game has some moments when it is necessary to fight something. This game is revolutionary for the year that was released, very bad that at the same time there were people so dumb that they couldn't understand what the game wanted to go through. People who took the game out of context, making false news in the newspapers and in the media at the time. The critics of that time were also idiots. And with all said, I hope that one day they will make a ramake of this game, I wish that I would be responsible for the work, I really wish.… Expand
  5. Vlax12
    May 7, 2020
    9
    Non posso dare 10 a questo gioco solamente perché ha dei limiti tecnici evidenti. Ma dal punto di vista artistico, e come esperienza di gioco in generale, si tratta di una dei miei giochi preferiti di sempre.
  6. SnakeC.
    Sep 26, 2006
    9
    A worthy adventure.
  7. PaulA.
    Jun 14, 2007
    9
    Great story its a masterpiece but unfortunately it goes really down by those controls and the stupid gameplay... But its still GREAT !!
  8. BambiRue
    Apr 20, 2020
    9
    A horror game not for the faint of heart.

    A mysterious game with beautiful imagery that you really can't forget. While the plot is so confusing you may have to play it more than once to get it, it is still a great game. The game play is fine with hard battles to stress how helpless your main character is in this world, but may become annoying to many players. Instead of focusing on    A horror game not for the faint of heart.

    A mysterious game with beautiful imagery that you really can't forget. While the plot is so confusing you may have to play it more than once to get it, it is still a great game. The game play is fine with hard battles to stress how helpless your main character is in this world, but may become annoying to many players.

    Instead of focusing on death or common supernatural monsters like demons and zombies, this game focuses on more realistic fears such as humiliation, the cruelty that children can have to other children, having to hurt innocent things, and other more grounded fears (though there is monster elements). The game also uses the unreliable storyteller, where much of the visuals and story are purely symbolic in the way a dream is, giving the game a feel like Alice in Wonderland where Alice was bullied by other girls until it changed her Wonderland into a nightmare.

    I truly hope this game doesn't get forgotten.    … Expand
  9. Aldrich
    Dec 19, 2011
    10
    I have never played this game before but I watched a walkthrough on Youtube through one sitting and what I saw was a game with storyline too cruel- yet too beautiful- to go untold, and it massive use of symbolism and the perspective of a child in the cruel situation/life is what made me give it a 10/10
  10. ValerieS
    Apr 12, 2008
    8
    Beautiful images, amazing story, creepy children, and a dog are the real shine of this game. Very enjoyable until you have to fight. Much like a Silent Hill battle system, but much clunkier(it is possible). .Not really scary but the backtracking can get a bit tedious and the dog dosn't always lead you to the right spot. But unraveling the story chapter by chapter in a fairy tale Beautiful images, amazing story, creepy children, and a dog are the real shine of this game. Very enjoyable until you have to fight. Much like a Silent Hill battle system, but much clunkier(it is possible). .Not really scary but the backtracking can get a bit tedious and the dog dosn't always lead you to the right spot. But unraveling the story chapter by chapter in a fairy tale essence is worth at least one playthrough… Expand
  11. AnthonyS.
    Aug 22, 2007
    9
    A beautiful, twisted horror game. Parts are slow and searching gets repetitive, but the story makes it well worth it.
  12. heychrisfox
    Oct 26, 2012
    8
    Games that bring controversy with their releases are always intriguing releases, and Rule of Rose is no different. An independently developed game, published by Atlas in North America, Rule of Rose follows the story of Jennifer, a skittish young girl who - through a strange series of circumstances - finds herself in the 1930s English countryside, chasing a boy down a dirt road. ThisGames that bring controversy with their releases are always intriguing releases, and Rule of Rose is no different. An independently developed game, published by Atlas in North America, Rule of Rose follows the story of Jennifer, a skittish young girl who - through a strange series of circumstances - finds herself in the 1930s English countryside, chasing a boy down a dirt road. This chase leads her to The Rose Garden Orphanage. But things take a turn for the bizarre: when she encounters a grave at the manor, she gets a horrible feeling, digging it up to reveal a coffin. She is then surprised from behind by some of the children, who push her into the coffin, and bury her alive.

    When she awakens, Jennifer finds herself in what appears to be a zeppelin. She is in the custody and care of a group of children, mostly girls, who call themselves The Aristocrat Club; they demand that you pay the club tribute in the form of monthly gifts of their choosing, the penalty for which not making your offering is death. Thus, Jeniffer begins to wander the zeppelin, searching for gifts, and experiencing what seem to be extremely disjointed scenarios involving her and the Aristocrat Club.

    Gameplay is your run-of-the-mill survival horror sort, wandering around with small, blunt, or generally ineffective weapons while little imp creatures chase you around. This makes running the most appropriate option in most situations, as Jennifer isn't the most competent battler you've ever encountered, haphazardly swinging her weapons around. The scenery (either the dark and seemingly abandoned orphanage or the metallic and eerie zeppelin) is exceptionally creepy, and the mood is set very well, with a great accompanying soundtrack. But navigating these environments can become cumbersome to traverse, as many of the corridors look identical, and it's easy to get turned around, especially when weaving between imps. Furthermore, certain chapters can be long with infrequent save points, meaning if you take an unlucky blow to the head from Billy the goat-headed ugly who wants to nom on your innards, you'll have to start from your last save, which can be time-consuming and just plain taxing.

    But for all the game's faults, it is all brought together by its fabulous storyline. The Aristocrat Club is anything but, making Jennifer suffer through verbal degradation and hazing rituals. And with the surreal environment of the zeppelin, with seemingly no adults taking care of the children, the kids rule in a Lord of the Flies styled dominion. Each chapter of the story is prefaced with a hand-drawn childrens' book that provides an off-kilter summary of the coming chapter. The entire story comes across as a haunting and visceral 9-year old's worst nightmare, and while the story may seem very disjointed and confusing, it gives you enough plot points to keep you hungry to see how it all comes together. And while it seems like this resolution may never come, a calming denouement after the climax of the plot offers all the answers to the questions that were brought about. If anything, this very rare - and at times, controversial - and unique release may not be the best game you've ever played, but certainly one of the most intriguing, and worth your time.    … Expand
  13. GuilhermeAug
    Apr 1, 2015
    10
    It is a complicated game with a complicated plot and story itself, so you have to pay attention when you play this game for you have - in your opinion - a satisfactory ending and understand the story, because, as i said before it's complicated to understand but it does not affect in the mysterious and dark atmosphere of the game. A surreal world, that you believe it's real... Insanity,It is a complicated game with a complicated plot and story itself, so you have to pay attention when you play this game for you have - in your opinion - a satisfactory ending and understand the story, because, as i said before it's complicated to understand but it does not affect in the mysterious and dark atmosphere of the game. A surreal world, that you believe it's real... Insanity, cruelty, torture, that is what make a game interesting, the use of real things on a unreal thing, and this game is a good example of this.… Expand
  14. SolidSnake1231
    Jan 6, 2018
    8
    So where to be begin with this one well for one is extremely expensive they should re-release this already. For the actual game the combat mechanics are not good the best thing to do is to run from combat when you can and only fight when you have to.The biggest thing this game has going for it is the subject matter and the story the setting is downright unsettling.This reminds me of lordSo where to be begin with this one well for one is extremely expensive they should re-release this already. For the actual game the combat mechanics are not good the best thing to do is to run from combat when you can and only fight when you have to.The biggest thing this game has going for it is the subject matter and the story the setting is downright unsettling.This reminds me of lord of the flies meet Silent Hill, the atmosphere is nerve wrecking and creepy as hell.I feel more games should try and tackle dark, mature subjects like this to be taken more series as an art form.… Expand
  15. DuskDungeon
    Jan 8, 2016
    9
    A different story told in a very beautiful way.

    What it might lack in its combat system polish, it vigorously manifests in its story, atmosphere and horrifyingly charming characters. A whole interesting new mechanic that you might either love or hate that involves using a very loyal friend to search for clues and items. As the story unravels you will be more invested in this dark    A different story told in a very beautiful way.

    What it might lack in its combat system polish, it vigorously manifests in its story, atmosphere and horrifyingly charming characters. A whole interesting new mechanic that you might either love or hate that involves using a very loyal friend to search for clues and items.

    As the story unravels you will be more invested in this dark experience, its a must play if you love our beloved survival horror genre.    … Expand
  16. Moge4579
    Nov 11, 2017
    9
    Lo bueno
    Historia extraordinaria!
    personajes muy buenos
    banda sonora super genial! de lo mejorcito que e escuchado
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Lo malo
    Peronaje Principal es Estupida
    Sistema de Combate muy Torpe
    Demora Mucho para avanzar con la historia principal
    Lo
  17. DiogoOliveira
    Dec 13, 2019
    8
    Uma trama Sinistra com jogabilidade difícil de lidar
    Rule of Rose e simplesmente um jogo que foge de todos os padrões de jogos lançado de sua época, com uma trama sinistra, sua historia rege muito bem o lado do bem e do mal, com uma narrativa extremamente interessante esse game se torno um dos meus Jogos favoritos do Playstation 2.
    Mas como nem tudo são flores, Rule of Rose tem um lado    Uma trama Sinistra com jogabilidade difícil de lidar
    Rule of Rose e simplesmente um jogo que foge de todos os padrões de jogos lançado de sua época, com uma trama sinistra, sua historia rege muito bem o lado do bem e do mal, com uma narrativa extremamente interessante esse game se torno um dos meus Jogos favoritos do Playstation 2.

    Mas como nem tudo são flores, Rule of Rose tem um lado amargo, lado esse que afasta a grande parte dos jogadores que entra no seu universo sombrio. a jogabilidade em combate e extremamente desbalanceada, favorecendo quase cem por cento o inimigo, o combate sempre e visto como um desafio chato e difícil, qualquer vacilo o seu fim e eminente, sem variedade de armas, o combate se torna quase um parto. Rule of Rose segue os passos da sua inspiração, INSPIRADO em Silent Hill ele tinha um dever dificil de seguir, conseguiu quase por completo, sua jogabilidade em combate fez com que o titulo amargasse uma recepção morna.    … Expand
  18. LiamMayfair
    Apr 13, 2021
    9
    Incredibly haunting and thought-provoking game. The story, sound/OST, character development and the way the core themes of the game are explored would give it a solid 10/10, but the janky combat mechanics blemished the whole experience enough for me to give it a 9/10 instead.
  19. Solaris123
    Dec 21, 2019
    10
    Best psychological story with Silent hill of era survival horror ever made. This is real horror in your head.
  20. Alexander838
    Feb 28, 2021
    10
    10/10 *********************************************************************
  21. sgsef
    Mar 11, 2021
    10
    wonderfull game Remarkably strange, interesting, and creepy story! The attack controls aren't the best in the world but that's hardly a reason to put down the game. It's not meant to be about action, even if there are some intense fights every once in a while. Amazing!
  22. Guilherme03
    Mar 16, 2021
    9
    Rule of Rose é quase uma obra-prima, uma bela trilha sonora, um jeito criativo de narrar o conto da personagem Jennifer ao decorrer da campanha e é um jogo que mexe com meu psicológico. O problema é que todo jogo sempre tem algum defeito, pois, nada nesse mundo é perfeito, as polêmicas só pioravam a reputação dele principalmente na Europa, o jogo teve algumas alegações falsas, porémRule of Rose é quase uma obra-prima, uma bela trilha sonora, um jeito criativo de narrar o conto da personagem Jennifer ao decorrer da campanha e é um jogo que mexe com meu psicológico. O problema é que todo jogo sempre tem algum defeito, pois, nada nesse mundo é perfeito, as polêmicas só pioravam a reputação dele principalmente na Europa, o jogo teve algumas alegações falsas, porém algumas são reais como focar em temas pesados, mas lembre-se que este jogo não é para menores de 18 anos e outra coisa que estraga são alguns bugs, mas só isso! Jogue, garanto que não vai se arrepender, já zerei muitas vezes no PS2!… Expand
  23. FiiLii
    May 31, 2023
    10
    O game é simplesmente incrível. O terror psicológico esta presente de uma forma perfeita. Univo defeitk mesmo é só ter saido para ps2 e ainda não ter ganhado um remake.
  24. VLG
    Aug 22, 2023
    9
    The atmosphere of this game, all it's secrets, the scandalous plot.... it marked me forever. I can only compare it to Fear and Hunger. It's true: the gameplay basically sucks. If you keep playing it it's because of the plot and the atmosphere. Pretty unique, i keep listening to the OST to this day. From my perspective, It is as good as Silent Hill 2.
    BTW, theres a YT chanell, abandoned    The atmosphere of this game, all it's secrets, the scandalous plot.... it marked me forever. I can only compare it to Fear and Hunger. It's true: the gameplay basically sucks. If you keep playing it it's because of the plot and the atmosphere. Pretty unique, i keep listening to the OST to this day. From my perspective, It is as good as Silent Hill 2.
    BTW, theres a YT chanell, abandoned many years ago, called RuleOfRoseMysteries, that is as legendary as the game itself. If you like the game, i would recommend you to check it out.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

16
#16 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2006
16
#16 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2006

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 44 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 31 out of 44
  3. Negative: 7 out of 44
  1. PSM2 Magazine UK
    58
    Worryingly disturbing, but just as worryingly patchy to play. A masterpiece of oddness that makes for a malnourished and sluggish video game. [JPN Import; June 2006, p.62]
  2. NTSC-uk
    50
    While not the best example of the genre, "Silent Hill" and "Haunting Ground" fans would certainly find the story appealing and the gorgeous cut-scenes instil the chilling atmosphere that every horror game needs. It’s just a shame that the gameplay is what ultimately lets Rule of Rose down.
    Read full review
  3. AceGamez
    90
    Action junkies looking for the next Resident Evil might find the pace a little slow, and the core gameplay doesn't do anything wildly different, but this is still a wonderful psychological thriller that will draw you in with its bizarrely compelling narrative, atmospheric presentation and thoughtful story-based gameplay.
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